I think the phrase that pays is "I think your budget may be a little light for what you're hoping to accomplish."

I'm seeing a lot of timbers that look like they're not actually needed. Fix the steps, junk the bizarre art installation of random timbers, and do a great planting. But looking at how cocked the steps are leading up to the stoop I'd price that, stop, and see how much budget is left before you chase your tail any farther.

When people hit you with a low budget, did you tell them it's not possible or did you not realize how low it is? It's always best to tell the the truth from the get go, this way you're not wasting any time.

The steps are the priority. Crawl before you walk, walk before you run. I other words at this point only price the steps. Don't waste time and energy on anything else. If the steps are too high - then the other items will be a no-go.

Frankly -i see them going with poured steps. They'll get nice steps for their budget with concrete. That's the route I see them taking.Posted via Mobile Device

"It's You vs. You"

"People Throw Rocks At Things That Shine"

My Equipment Brag List:

-1 CAT hat
-16 pairs of Hanes socks (the Heavy Duty model), many with holes.
-12 pairs of underwear, ranging from Joe Boxers to Jockey, many are in need of replacement. (no more photo requests please)
-hundreds of t-shirts. Some w/ grease stains, some torn & tattered.
-7 pairs of jeans, ranging from Levis to Polo to GAP. 1/2 of them have holes in 'em.
-1 belt
-1 pair of old worn out Nike shoes.

I don't have a ton of experience in this area but here is my thought. The fence area kinda looks sunken. My thought would be to take out the timber wall on the front of the house and level it with the fence area. Then make it a bit of a hump so the plants stand out more and bed edge it so it looks crisp and clean. Also I'd round the corner so it's is not so boxy. Then for the timber box id just make it a round dome with the center being 6inches to a foot higher than the outside. Everything is so boxy looking with squared off edges. Also I'd use tall blooming plants on the fence and low green plants in the dome bed so nothing is hidden from the road. Also this would be a simple clean up in the fall with the trees. In the first pic I would keep everything except the lowest timber wall. I would use a rustic, earthy looking block wall. Maybe this http://www.unilock.com/default/products/walls/garden-walls/rivercrest/ or this http://www.rootbound.com/images/Stone%20wall%202.JPG and I would use this color mulch for everything http://images.fordaq.com/p-17850000-17848239-D1-M/Mulch.jpeg Its like a maroon. Hope this gets your creative juices going. The idea I purposed should be more low cost except for that bottom wall.

When people hit you with a low budget, did you tell them it's not possible or did you not realize how low it is? It's always best to tell the the truth from the get go, this way you're not wasting any time.

The steps are the priority. Crawl before you walk, walk before you run. I other words at this point only price the steps. Don't waste time and energy on anything else. If the steps are too high - then the other items will be a no-go.

Frankly -i see them going with poured steps. They'll get nice steps for their budget with concrete. That's the route I see them taking.Posted via Mobile Device

Click to expand...

They wanted poured steps. I have them a price for redoing everything in pavers and he looked like a deer in headlights lol.Posted via Mobile Device

Would he be opposed to the idea of just pulling them out and redoing the ground under them properly and putting them back in? If you go pouring new concrete its going to be years before it matches all his other concrete, if ever.